Holistic Therapy

Therapies That Help Improve Your Overall Well-Being

We offer a diverse range of holistic therapies to help our patients recover from addiction using a whole-person approach. These therapies help ease the stresses that may lead patients to drug or alcohol abuse. Holistic treatments also assist in giving our patients a greater sense of overall well-being. For more information about the holistic therapy options we offer at our rehab center in Palm Beach and Lancaster County, read the information below.

Culinary

Participants of our culinary program are taught how to prepare meals and snacks that are good for their bodies. Patients are also taught about nutrition and healthy eating habits in general. Culinary practices are not only therapeutic, but are an important life skill.

Recreational Therapy

Recreation Therapy is a holistic form of therapy geared towards educating and instructing patients on how to increase healthy living habits and structured leisure

time as a means of self-care and compassion for the mind and body. When we are stressed and struggling we often lose touch with our ability to be kind to ourselves, so most importantly, our goal is to increase your knowledge and ability to have fun and take time for yourself each day, whether that be through physical exercise, mindfulness meditation, games and puzzles, or engaging in old and new hobbies. Our Recreation Therapy program here at Retreat at Lancaster County is run by a Masters Level Clinical Specialist with a background in Clinical Counseling and a passion for Sports and Exercise Psychology.

Morning Small Group Recreation Therapy includes activities such as Team Building challenges, nature walks, and competitive sports. Healthy Living is an afternoon group that includes activities such as experiential exercise demonstrations and mindfulness stretching routines to help you learn how to take better care of your body. There is also one Recreation Elective group that you can sign up for each day which includes more physically intense activities such as Kickball, Dodgeball, Volleyball, Circuit Training, and much more! Between groups and sessions, our Recreation Therapist is also available for individual or group workouts, discussions about nutrition, mindfulness, and other healthy living habits, and 1:1 therapeutic face-time. We all need to stay in touch with our inner child, and our Recreation Therapy program is a great place to start!

Yoga

Our group yoga sessions are led by certified yoga instructors. During these sessions, participants use the ancient spiritual discipline of yoga to relieve stress, improve breathing, and ease anxiety.

Gardening

At Retreat at Palm Beach and Lancaster County, we have an organic fruit and vegetable garden where program participants’ plant and grow their own food. Many individuals are able to find restoration and a more positive outlook on life through the practice of gardening.

Art Therapy

Art Therapy allows clients the opportunity to express themselves through a creative medium, during which they can relax and begin to analyze created artworks and

their correlation to underlying emotions and outside relationships. Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve participant’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The art therapist guides the participants through the process of creation and allows time for discussion of insights established within the art. The directive art therapy groups encourage patients to reveal and explore deeper aspects of self. The open studio elective art therapy groups provides time to get in touch with the inner self, work progressively on artworks, and build self-esteem.

The art therapy program is run by a board certified registered art therapist. The art therapist fosters a safe and non-judgmental environment that focuses on the therapeutic value of creating art rather than artistic ability; no artistic skill is required. Art Therapy is of benefit to participants of all kinds but particularly to those that have things they are unable to express via traditional talk therapy. The art therapist is available to assist participants by helping them get acclimated to the studio and learn art skills and techniques. The art therapist is also often able to guide insight into participant’s art and tap into the conscious or unconscious thoughts that are behind each piece. This allows participants to help connect with their innermost selves on a level that they may have been unable to otherwise. Art therapy utilizes a wide variety of artistic mediums including acrylic paint, watercolors, colored pencils, oil pastels, chalk pastels, collage materials, clay, plaster, beads, and bracelets, along with an array other creative supplies.

Music Therapy

Music is a socializing medium which elicits an emotional response and for these reasons can be a powerful treatment modality in the recovery process. Each person

has their own experience level with music and unique musical preferences. Groups are designed to be all inclusive no matter the music ability or preference. Specific groups include songwriting groups, meditation groups, lyric analysis groups and active music making groups. Music Therapy groups are scheduled however extra music electives are provided as well. These groups are designed to provide an opportunity to express oneself and increase self-awareness in a new and impactful way.

A board certified music therapist is on site and groups are designed to address a variety of treatment goal areas. A variety of instruments are on site including guitars, keyboards and a various hand percussion instruments. Recording capabilities are available as well so the music that is created while in treatment can stay with patients after they leave treatment.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy helps patients ease their tension and anxiety, and reach a state of calm and equilibrium. Message may also help individuals to become more in tune with certain elements within their bodies and minds.

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Research indicates that Equine therapy can be effective in the treatment of addiction (s), emotional trauma, self-worth issues, abuse, anxiety and depression. No riding is involved, no prior horse experience is required, and equine therapy is suitable for those with a fear of horses. Equine therapy uses horses to improve the occupational, physical, emotional wellbeing of participants. Equine therapy is a form of experiential therapy where patients are engaged intellectually, emotional, socially, soulfully, and physically. This involvement produces and authentic integral learning experience. Equine therapy requires and encourages presence and participation. Equine therapy groups are scheduled by primary therapy groups and elective groups are provided as well.

As prey animals horses have an instinctual fear of danger. They’re biologically attuned to the whole of their environment and can detect the heart rate, pulse, and respiration of predators at great distance. Horses accurately perceive and interpret our feelings—feelings we may or may not be aware of ourselves. They react to our true selves, unimpeded by distortion or denial. They act as mirror to what’s going on in our lives—giving us immediate, non-judgmental emotional “feedback”. For psychotherapy patients, this reflective insight acts as a catalyst to healing.